Chaotic World Book
Chapter 71 - 71 70 Cui Wenjing

71: Chapter 70 Cui Wenjing 71: Chapter 70 Cui Wenjing Cui Yuanyang, however, ultimately didn’t say much, only saying, “Father is in the back pavilion enjoying the flowers, I think…

he must also be waiting for Brother Zhao to meet with him.”

Zhao Changhe looked up at her.

Those big eyes, which usually clearly showed joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, were now shrouded in mist, concealing all her thoughts.

But she still smiled radiantly.

Seeing that Zhao Changhe had finished the fresh milk pastries, she stood up gracefully, lifting her dress hem, “I’ll take Brother Zhao there.”

Zhao Changhe stood up, and Cui Yuanyang naturally took his hand, leading him out of the house.

Zhao Changhe, on the other hand, felt somewhat unnatural and looked around the corridor, “You’re also holding hands here…”

Cui Yuanyang said indifferently, “Whether it should be held or not, it has been held many times already, why deceive ourselves and others.

Whether in front of others or alone, Yangyang is always Yangyang.”

Zhao Changhe pursed his lips and did not reply.

As Cui Yuanyang leisurely walked on holding his hand, she said, “Actually, I wasn’t in a very good mood.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Because you found out who the traitor is, right?”

Cui Yuanyang sighed, “If Brother Zhao could be a little dumber sometimes, that would be quite endearing.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Like you?”

Cui Yuanyang nodded earnestly, “Yes, like me.”

Zhao Changhe couldn’t help but laugh quietly.

Cui Yuanyang said, “Of course, if you were dumber, you wouldn’t be able to lead me through thorns and thickets like a Heavenly God, which really is a problem.

Perhaps… be clever to the outside world, but a little dumber to Yangyang?”

Zhao Changhe suddenly felt that this girl was beginning to speak in riddles.

Was it a case of a stolen axe falling under suspicion?

What does she mean by ‘to the outside world’?

What is ‘inside’?

He avoided the topic, “So who exactly is the traitor?”

“My third brother, Cui Yuancheng.”

“The second legitimate son?”

“Yes.”

Zhao Changhe fell silent.

This was the true legitimate older brother of the same father and mother…

and he actually wanted the life of this harmless younger sister, just to frame Cui Yuanyong with the charge of not taking good care of his sister, which he wasn’t even sure if it would have any practical effect on the succession.

No wonder the initial reaction of the Cui Family was somewhat slow.

Assassinations had already begun on the streets, yet the Cui Family was unaware, and these encirclements and blockades had a certain level of organization, which could only be maneuvered by someone with a high position inside, not something any powerless illegitimate son or concubine could achieve.

If he were Cui Yuanyang, he should be crying at this point…

Perhaps she had already cried a lot the night before?

“How…

how will he be dealt with?”

“Father has locked him in the dungeon, and for now, no action has been taken.

I heard mother has been crying at home the whole time, saying that there must be a mistake, that someone framed him.”

Zhao Changhe shook his head, finding it difficult to comment.

Cui Yuanyang then smiled again, “But now, I don’t hate him.”

“Hmm?”

“If it weren’t for him, I would not have met such a righteous Brother Zhao.”

“…”

“Do you know?

I had regrets before.”

“Regret what?”

“Not choosing the first path, to go with you to Jiangnan and the Northern Desert.” As Cui Yuanyang spoke, her voice faded to almost inaudible, not allowing Zhao Changhe to hear the latter half of the sentence: “Perhaps there will never be such an opportunity again.”

Zhao Changhe did not need to hear the latter half of the sentence; the first half alone had already clearly revealed the young girl’s heartfelt thoughts.

He clenched his lips tightly, not knowing how to respond.

But suddenly, Cui Yuanyang stopped walking, “We’ve arrived.”

Zhao Changhe looked up, seeing before him a vibrant tapestry of purple and red, a profusion of blooming flowers.

A winding path of blue stone snaked its way through the blossoming trees, its extent hidden from view.

“I won’t go in…” Cui Yuanyang said with a smile, then bowed her head shyly again, “The things you and he will talk about, I shouldn’t be listening in.”

After finishing speaking, he turned around and ran off, disappearing like a wisp of smoke.

At the corner of the corridor, he looked back with a gaze that seemed annoyed yet resentful, indescribable.

Zhao Changhe came to a stop and watched until that light green hem vanished from sight at the edge of the corridor, then silently turned and walked into the garden.

It was strange.

He did not feel such indescribable emotions when he bid farewell to Xia Chichi.

Deep in the garden, water tinkled, and one could vaguely see the eaves of a pavilion peeking through the interspersed flowers, trees, and ponds—that was the garden’s loft, with someone standing quietly, silently watching the water.

Zhao Changhe walked up.

There was a table in the pavilion with wine on it and no one attending to it.

Cui Wenjing was still watching the water, not turning his head, and seemed to casually say, “Sit.

I’ve heard you are fond of drinking, help yourself.”

Zhao Changhe did not sit but, instead, walked to his side to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him and watch the water.

This action was quite impolite… Of course, actually sitting down and drinking wine to the fullest would also be considered impolite, but that would be consistent with his rough image.

Now, this standing side-by-side, it’s even harder to describe.

Cui Wenjing looked at him in surprise, his gaze lingering for a moment on the scar on his face before returning to the view ahead, “In what capacity do you stand beside me?”

As the savior of my daughter?

Or a son-in-law?

Or… a Prince?

“A guest,” Zhao Changhe said casually.

“When a guest arrives, and the host doesn’t even turn his head, but rather keeps watching the water…

The Cui Family is highly esteemed in this world.

In order not to let the elder bear a reputation for rudeness, this junior could only stand here with you.”

There was a hint of amusement in Cui Wenjing’s eyes as he turned around and made an inviting gesture, “I had some concerns on my mind and was momentarily rude.

My apologies, guest.

Please sit.”

Zhao Changhe turned and sat down, this time taking the initiative to pour wine for Cui Wenjing.

Cui Wenjing watched him pour with interest, then suddenly said, “You have read books, you know the proprieties?”

Zhao Changhe “Hmm” in response.

Although I haven’t learned your world’s etiquette, nor have I read the books you have, I truly am a scholar.

The temperament of a scholar is actually quite obvious.

It’s just that Zhao Changhe, who mixed up in a bandit’s lair, had seen his scholarly aura fade over time.

However, when faced with a family like the Cui Family with such an Attribute, he would unconsciously reveal it.

Initially, Cui Yuanyang felt he was a “hypocrite,” and that this man was not as uncouth as imagined.

But in Cui Wenjing’s eyes, the meaning was different, “Coming from Zhao Mansion, you should not have been educated or learned in propriety.”

Zhao Changhe’s hand, which was pouring wine, paused for an instant before he gracefully stopped and set the wine pot aside, “Zhao Mansion is right next to Luo Family Manor… it is not as remote as people imagine.”

“So it’s normal for people from Zhao Mansion to work in Luo Family Manor, or for those from the Luo Family Manor to live in Zhao Mansion?”

Zhao Changhe kept silent.

Cui Wenjing looked at the wine in his cup and suddenly said, “Last night, I didn’t want to intervene initially.

I planned to wait for the assassin to kill you first, confident that I could rescue my daughter at the same time.”

“I know,” Zhao Changhe replied calmly.

“That way, I would have died at the hands of the assassin in The Listening Snow Tower.

The elder would have arrived a moment too late, only in time to save your daughter… A lot of troublesome matters would have instantly vanished.”

“Do you bear resentment?

Having risked life and limb to escort my daughter, only to receive such a response.”

“If I were in the elder’s position, what I might have done would probably not be much better, so I understand…

After all, the elder did save me in the end.

Previous thoughts aren’t too important.

However, I told Yangyang something: ‘Understanding must be mutual to be meaningful.'”

“One must have the right status to have the premise of mutual understanding, whether it be myself or Tang Wanzhuang.” Cui Wenjing spoke indifferently, “Just like any family, the attitude towards a ‘live-in son-in-law’ and a marriage between equals will obviously differ.

It’s human nature.

I believe the same applies to you.

So I repeat the question, in what capacity are you drinking with me now?”

It was almost as if Cui Wenjing was saying: The Chaotic World Book has put us in a tight spot, and now with my daughter involved with you, we have no other options.

The only choice left is whether you really are a Prince or just a bandit.

If you are a Prince, we should consider an alliance; if you won’t admit it, then be a ‘live-in son-in-law’ and go play your part.

Just waiting on your word.

Zhao Changhe suddenly thought, in fact, Cui Wenjing’s attitude indicated something: he knew this was not the true Prince.

If it were the real Prince, Old Cui could have said it outright.

Only with the clear knowledge that this was a fake would there be any hesitation.

After all, planning to elevate a fake to the throne involves making a whole series of grand moves.

Would the Cui Family be willing to make such a major commitment?

That’s why last night the idea came to him: better to let the situation die with him.

And now, discovering Zhao Changhe actually had education and manners revealed something interesting, and he might have even begun to doubt his initial judgment of “fake.” So he tried to make Zhao Changhe admit he was the Prince, hoping he would voluntarily produce proof.

Thinking about this, Zhao Changhe suddenly shook his head with a wry smile.

Cui Wenjing simply watched him with a smile, not saying a word.

Zhao Changhe finally sighed, “That’s why I say, understanding needs to be mutual.

In this matter, no one has ever considered how Zhao Changhe feels… Maybe only Yangyang herself thought about it.

She might be the only one who really considered the issue from Zhao Changhe’s perspective…”

Cui Wenjing said lightly, “You might as well make yourself clear.”

“I returned Yangyang because it was the right thing to do.

From the start up until now, I’ve never entertained any romantic intentions, nor have I coveted even a bit of the Cui Family’s power,” Zhao Changhe spoke softly.

“I have someone I love…

although I do not know if she has forgotten me now, but until she declares us strangers, I must honor her wait.

Yangyang is adorable, the Cui Family is noble, and maybe they could give me a boost, helping me reach the skies in a single step…

But Zhao Changhe has never had such intentions.”

Cui Wenjing narrowed his eyes.

In the distance, under the corridor, Cui Yuanyang leaned against a pillar, looked up at the drifting clouds in the sky, and heaved a soft sigh.